Mining machine



Agg. 1 9, 1930.

M.P.HOLMES MINING MACHINE riginal Filed March 13. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet v1 Manz m... um

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r IIIL was@ l wmiuwwlg QB Illy] lll Aug. 19, 1930.

Original Filed March l5. 1924 4 lSheets-Sheet 2 HWI? 1% j. m S QJ. N m m W .QN L mm n m L m m m QQ lm W M n i i Q llas QHQQ w .m a .w WV .N

Aug. 19, 1930. M. P. HOLMES 1,773,532

. MINING MACHINE Original F'i-led March 13. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug.19, 1930. M. P. HOLMES 1,773,532

` MINING MACHINE l Original Filed March l5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 atentecl Aug. 19, A1930 MORRIS I. IIoLMns, or GLAREMONT, Nnw IIAMPsILIIRn, AssIeNonfrogsuLmvAN. MA-

v oIIINnnYooMrANY, A cortrola-n'rI-oiv1 or MAssAoiIUsEtursVx MINING l MACHINE Appncaaon fuea Maren 1s, 1924, serial No. 699,057.y Renewed June 3, 1929.

VMy invention relates tomining machines. It has'fo'r its object to provide an improved mining machine, and more particularly to provide an improved feeding mechanism for such a-machine whereby feed-ing operation is facilitated and the feeding mechanism simplified and'rendered more flexible. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanism adapted to Vfeed a `mining machine laterally across a face either in one directionor inthe opposite direction and one whichis equally well adapted for use with a plurality of iiexible feeding elements or with "a single flexible feeding member. rlhese and further objects and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the` accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration two embodiments which my inventionma-y assume in practice,

In these drawings- Fig. 11is a plan view of the more copiously illustrated embodiment of my invention with parts brokenfawayV to show details of the mechanism, the same being-embodied'in'a cable propelled machine utilizing -a plurality ofcables. i Fig. 2 is a View Vpartially inside elevation' and partiell-yin central verticallongitudinal section'through'.the machine shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa plan view of such a machinedesignedffor use with a single continuous leXible feeding member.'

B portions of the machine frame shown vin `\l`l) k3. A I* r` -v y' K i lview of the fact thatthe feeding mecha ni'si i is generically the same in both the illus-Y trative forms disclosed herein, I will describe this' mechanism vin connection with*l Figs. 1 and 2; ln thesefigures it will be` observedr Vthat the mining machine comprises a machine frame 1 slidable'on its bottom 2 lon the-*mine bottom and carrymgla cutter bar 3 which, as is customary In ka. room Yand pillarmachinef` projects in a horizontal plane fromv ythe front' end of the machiney and carries 4z't'vcutter chain 4 movable about the barbymeans-ofa cutter chaindriving -sprocket vcarried oni/the frame igs. l and 5 are side elevations of the rear f 1 and herein-'disposed beneath the same -at a point lslightly nearer the rearendthereoff Thisrcutte'r chain driving `sprocket 5 is herein driven through connections later described from a suitable motor 6 carried o n the Yf-Ifame, herein a.A longitudinally disposed i horizontal electric motor carried on the front end ofthe frame. As showmthe frame also carries feed operating andvcontrollin lmechanism inthe formof 'drums 7 'and 8 a apted tocooperate with flexible feeding Yportions-9 and 10 respectively, herein in the form of separate cables wound on thedrums and driving-con# `nections between the drums and motor hereafter' described, whereby when` the flexible feedingv portions Vare extended l from the drums to the opposite ribs infthe mine around suitable guiding means in 'the Aform of sheaves lland 12, the machine may propel itself transversely across thefaceto be cut;-

Now taking up vthis structure-morefspeciiically, it will be observed thatthe rearend of the `armature shaft of the motor G-Carries a 'pinion 13,v herein a bevel pinion meshingI with a larger bevel gear 14 mounted upon'f'an upright lshaft 15 suitable journaled at`16 fon bearings on the. frame 1 and jtliat this 'shaft 15V carries onits lower end asp'ur pinion 17' `meshing with ya largerspur-gear 18 which is as usual operatively connectedfthrough lsuitable clutchY mechanism, not shown, to the cutterchain driving sprocket '5. `Obviously,' vthroingh the drivingitrain just described the cutter chain may be driven' by the-motor whenever it -is desired; and, depending lupon the direction of rotation of the motor,it may befdriven ineither direction about the cutter bar. Operatively connected #-to thev gear 18 and rotatable'therebyis a train',v of mechanism driving the' feeding mechanism. Als shown, this mechanism includesfan upright shaft 19 suitably journaledlas at 2O on the-framel and carry-ing on its upp'er end'a rbevel pinion '2 1 which'meshesfwith apair ofopp'ositely disposed `larger bevel gears respectively `numbered QQ'and 23 `coaxiallyfjournaled in suitablefb'earingsV coaxial with a shaft 24e. Herein the gea-TQQ' is adapted to be connected L'to-'the shaft 24 through a friction clutch 25 having f one seriesf'of elements connected'to thelshalft as through a member 26 and the other fixed to the gear as at 27. The gear 23 is adapted to be connected to the shaft 24 through a friction clutch 28 part 0f whose elements are connected to the shaft 24 through an element 29 keyed to the shaft and the remainder are connectedas at 30 to the gear 23. Disposed upon the shaft 24 between these elements is a collar member 31 having projecting from theopposite sidesthereof series of fingers 32 and 33 which are respectively adapted to effect engagement of the friction clutch 25 and the friction clutch 28 so that the shaft 24 may be driven by the gear 22 or the gear 23. For the purpose of moving the collar or sleeve 31 longitudinally of the shaft in opposite directions a suitable shipper fork 35 is secured upon a vertical shaft 36 extending through the top cover 37 of the frame and actuatable by a lever 38. c

Thel armature shaft of the motor carries immediatelyforward of the pinion 13 a spur pinion`40 meshing with a larger spur gear 4l which is secured to a short shaft 42 whichV provides a bearing for a reduced portion 43 of the shaft 24, the shaft 42 being suitably journaled at one end as at 45 while its other end 46 is secured within a sleeve-like portion 47, more fully described hereafter, which is journaled in a bearing 48. The sleeve portion 47 is secured to and formed integral with a friction clutch housing 49 within which friction elements 50 and a sleeve 51 keyed to the shaft are arranged, certain of the friction elements being mounted in non-rotative relation with respect to the housing 49 while others are similarly mounted with respect to the element 51. For the purpose of effecting engagement ofthis lfriction clutch a collar 52 having fingers 53 adapted to press the friction discs into engagement is slidable longitudinallyof. the shaft 24, suitable means for sli ding it of well-known type including a lever 55,a shaft 56 and a fork 57, heilig provided. ,By virtue of the mechanism so far described, it `will be evident that the shaft 24 can be driven in opposite directions at a relatively slowrspeed and in one direction at a relatively fast speed without reversal of the motor, while, by reversing the motor, drive in both directions ata slow speed may still be obtained, while a fast rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction is securable.

Adjacent its rear end, between suitable bearings 60 and 61, the shaft 24 carries a worm 62 which meshes with and drives a large worm wheel 63,4 which is supported upon housing members 64 and 65 bolted thereto and journaled respectively in bearings 66 and 67 which surround sleeve portions 68 and 69 respectively-formedintegral with the members 64 and 65. Journaled within the sleeves 68 ,and 69 are a pair of oppositely disposed bevel gears 71 and72 mountedupon the polyg-V onal ends 73 and 74 of shafts 75 and 76,

which last are positioned at the sides of the frame respectively by bearings 77 and 78 in which are journaled the hubs 79, of which but one is shown, of pinions 81 and 82, respec-I tively keyed to the shafts and 76. Between the gears 71 and 72 and carried upon pivots 83 mounted on pivot pins projecting from a ring 85 is a series of gears 86 which mesh with the gears 71 and 72 and make up with these gears a differential, this term being here used in the sense which is customary in connection with automobile tranmissions. It will be oberved that to the shaft 75 a brake drum is secured and that a similar brake drum 91 is's'ecured to the shaft 76 and it will be observed', moreover, that suitable manually controllable brakes 92 and 93 are provided together with controlling means 94 and 95 therefor for the purpose of permitting the braking of the rotation of the shafts 75 and 7 6. lIt will herein be evident that the brakes 92 `and 93 may cooperate ,directly with the drums 7 and 8 if desired, there being provided under such circumstances braking surfaces on the drums. It will be noted, moreover, that the drums 7 and 8 are journaled upon suitable bearings, of which one is shown at 97, and these drums include suitable rope winding surfaces 98 and 99 and internal gears 101 and 102 which mesh with and are adapted to be driven by the pinions 81 and 82 upon the shafts 75 and 76. It is to be noted that guiding sheaves 11 and 12 are arranged in suitabic positions at the opposite sides of the ma chine frame so that by a reversal of the connection and the reeve of the flexible portions 9 and 10 the machine may, when the cutter bits have been reversed and the motor re' versed, cut in the opposite direction.

Before describing the operation of the mechanism so far disclosed, I shall describe a second form which` this invention may assume in practice, which form is primarily adapted for use with a continuous-flexible feeding member, but ywhich by certain substitutions of parts may be employed with the pair of separate iieXible `cables shown in the first form of the invention. This second form is shown in Figs. 3. to 5 of the draw ings. In this form. of thc invention a chain is used, which chain is adapted to extend about certain cooperating chain engaging elementsonthe machine frame and to be secured at its oppositeends to certain jacks or take-up members adjacent the opposite ribs or at other suitable points. In this form the pinions 81 and 82 are replaced by driving sprockets 111 and 112 mounted upon the shafts 75 and7 6 respectively and the drums 7 'and-A8 and the journaling means therefor are omitted, although it is to be understood that openings 113 and 114 are provided, which openings are adapted to permit the mounting of the drums and their journaling means upon the frame if desired. For the purpose of permitting the presence ofa certain amount of slack between the sprockets 111 and A112 a channel 115 is extended across the rear end of the ,frame so that it may serve as a guiding means for the slack in the chain. lThis ychannel may, however, be replacedby other suitable guiding means as, for example, additional sprockets if desired. Arranged respectivelyat the front left hand and rear right hand corners of the frame are guiding sprockets or sheaves 11S and 117 and corresponding sprockets for use during cutting in the opposite direction may be arranged'respectively at the remaining front and rear corners as shownat 118 and 119. As to these guide sheaves and the sprockets, it is to be observed that they may be replaced by ordinaryguide pulleys or shea-ves with half round. or similar grooves if itis desired to'convert the machine to a two cable flexibly fed type. For the purpose of yguiding the chain 110 during feeding, additional guide sprockets are arranged atl the sides of y the frame, one of these being shown at 120 below and forward of the sprocket 112; An

other is arranged above and slightly forward of this sprocket and is illustrated atA 121. At the opposite side of the machine no auxiliary guiding sprocket is requisite in cutting from right to left. lThe manner of reeving the chain during cutting from right to left is as follows -#The chain is led from a suitable jack at the left hand rib and fairly close to theface about ythe sprocket 116, b`e

, neath the sprocket 120 about the rear ofthe sprocket 112, up over the front of the sprocket 121, through the guide-115, over the top of sprocket 111 and around the sprocket 117,

to the right hand rib where lity is connected to another jack or'takeaip mechanism if de,`

sire'd. Forthe purpose of permitting this form of the machine to cut from le'fttorightf as well as from right to left, additional openings are provided at 122 and 123 so that the sprockets 120, and 121 may be moved from f ily apparent that by suitable variation in the i, vtion across a face', it being understood that position 4of the sprockets 12() and 121 this machine may be caused, to cut in either direc either the ysprocket 116 rore the sprocket 119 and correspondinglyy the sprocket 117 oiy sprocket 118, depending upon which direc'- tion cutting is being'rlone, may be left off. 1t will ,also be evidentthat by reason of thel presence of the openings 113 and 114C and the removability'ofthe driving and power.A sprockets 111 and 112 theinachine may readily be converted to the lform shownin the` ,if first form of my invention killustrated in Figs.y

1 and 2, by the addition of the drums 7 andk 8 andthe substitution of the pinions S1 and 82, for the sprockets 111 and 112, together.

with the substitution of suitably grooved sheaves for the guide sprockets. It is thus apparent that a machine capable of cutting in either direction and capable of employing -v either a continuous flexible feed chain or a pair ofseparate feeding and guiding Acables is provided. v

Now taking up the mode of operation of described, namely, the cable feed form, and assuming that the machine is at the Center of the entry and about to make la cut, it will be evident that 'the cable 9 may be led back from .the guide 11 around the guide 12 and thence toa jack or take-up mechanism adjacent the right hand rib, but spaced from the" face a distance about equal to the length of the mining machine frame.y The necessary slack may be obtained either by taking the cable from the drum by hand,or, better, by locking the member 91'and by suitable manipulations of the motor controller kand clutches, causing the drum 7 to pay 01T the ing the machine up to position ready to begin sumping. Vhen the machine reaches the pre-. sumping position the rope 9 may be disen-f gaged from the sprocket 12 and the rope 10'- f the form of my invention which has been first having been unwound from the druin8 iny i any desired manner may heeled over to a jack at the left liandrib and close up to the face and passed around the guide sheave12. The cutter chain driving clutch, referred to above but not disclosed, may be then used vto starti the fast or the slower feed'mechanism, but

even vby the latter at approximately twice the speed at which the machine `will out when going across a face,it being understood that; l

the clutch 50 willbe actuated if very fasty sumpingis possible, while the clutch 28 will be actuated if a slower suinping speed is delsirahle, that the brake band 93 will he usedy to hold the member 91 and accordingly the gear Y7 2 against rotation during sumpingiat either speed. gear 41 vand the pinion 21 the gear 23, and

The pinion 40 will drivethe either drive may rotate the .worm 62 clockwise when viewed from the rear end ofthe e machine. vThis will cause clockwise rotation of the worm wheel 63 in Fig. 2 and clockwise Y :i

.Y stant length.

cable 9 by the drum 7. It will be understood that a different method of sumping can be e used if desired. The machine may be placed at a greater initial angle to the rib and sumped in under the Joint control of both `brake bands, the feed drum paying out and the Vtake-up drum drawing in, and the frictions being manipulated to swing7 the bar under the coal, so to speak. After the sumping cut has been completed, the machine may l' be straighteend up perpendicular to the face bylocking the bralre drum 90 and by engaging the clutch and throwing out the clutch 28, causing the drum 8 to wind in the meinberlO, while the tail rope 9 remains of con- VVhen the machine has been brought into the desired relation to the face forthe transverse cut, the clutch 25 remaining in engagement and the drive being throughthe pinion 18, gear 14, pinion 17, gear 18, pinion 21, gear 22, shaft 2li, worm 62, worm wheel 63, etc., the shaft 7 6 will, )rovidedthe resistance to rotation of the shaft be made equal to the resistance to rotation of the shaft 7 6, cause the machine to pro- -ceed across the lface while remaining perpendicular thereto. Itwill be evident that with the reeve shown the pull of the tail rope will be in a direction to cause the shaft 75 torotate in the direction in which it wouldnormally be driven by the drive mechanism and accordingly with no load upon the brake drum member vthe machine would not move at all for, since a pull ofseveral tons is necessary to pr-opelthe machine across the face,

a considerable.resistance would be opposed to the rotation of the gear 72 while the gear 71 would be entirely free to unwind substantially without any resistance. It is accord'- ingly necessary to tighten the brake band. 92

to such an extent that it will oppose a resis ance to turning of the shaft 75 equal to the resistance opposed to the turning of the shaft 7 6 during feeding across a face. The further phases of the operation of this machine need notbe considered in detail for they will be obvious to one skilled in this art from what has been described so far. It will be evident,

however, that there is provided a machine which can ybe handled with great facility and that simply by adjusting the friction bands 92 and 93 the movements of the machine may be very readily controlled, it being necessary in fact only to control the brake band 92 when cutting across the face for, if it is desired that the rear end of the frame should lag somewhat, the brake band 92 may be Y tightened still further so that the tail rope gain on the point ofthe cutter bar, this can readily be accomplished by simply slaclening the tension of the brake band 92, for then the tail rope will pay out more rapidly than the rope 10 is wound in and so the rear end of the machine will move ahead faster than the cutter bar. It will be evident that the rear end of the machine may be pulled back in cutting around a sulphur ball by the proper use of the reversing clutches, etc. The further advantageous potentialities of this mechanism will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art and accordingly it is believed unnecessary to increase the length of this description by a further analysis of the different cutting operations possible. It may simply be said in conclusion, however, that, as pointed out above, the cutter bits having been reversed in the chain and the motor reversed, the machine may obviously be controlled so that by proper reeving of the ropes 9 and 10 it may cut from left to right. It will further be noted that the cables 9 and 10 may extend directly from the drums and around angularly disposed sheaves in place of sheaves 11 and 12.

lVhile I have in this application speciiicah' ly described two forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in vari ous other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mining machine, the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of a machine during cutting' across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operativewhen rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate,and mechanism for controlling the rotation of'said members including a plurality of Vcoaxial elements, a plurality of which provide coaxial portions and another of which provides orbitally moving means which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, opera ibler feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the oppositeends of afmachine during cutting across a face, rotatablemembers operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw inthe Vportions with -which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including a plurality of coaxial elements, a plurality of which provide coaxial portions and another of whichfprovides orbitally moving ymeans which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members,`means for retarding the rotation of one of said last mentioned coaxial elements, and a reversible power connection with the third coaxial element for driving the'latter selectively in opposite directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

3. In a mining machine, theY combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driventhereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions Aextending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of a machine during cutting across aface, rotatable mem-V bers operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when' rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, fand mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members inclu'dingY a plurality of coaxial elements, a plurality ofl which provide'coaxial rportions rand another of which provides orbitally moving means which; constitutes a connecting means Vbetween said coaxialportions, operative connections between one of said coaxial lelements and one of saidv members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of either of said two last mentioned coaxial elements, and a reversible power connection with the third coaxial element for driving the latter selectivelyv in opposite directions while said motor rims continuously in the saine di- "means between said coaxialportions, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said v coaxial elements and another of said mem-370 bers =and al powerconnection with the third coaxial element-including fast and'slow speed ving connections therefor, said power connection including means for effecting rotation of said thirdvcoaxial element in opposite 75 'directions without reversing said motor.

Ina mining machine, the combination including a motor, an d flexible feeding means driven thereby including 'a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositelygo laterally' from the opposite lends of a inachine during cutting across a face, rotatable -members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions-35 with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling lthe rotation of said members `including a plurality of coaxial elements, a

plurality of which provide coaxial portions `and another of which provides orbitally mov- 51190 ing means which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said? members, distinct operative connections between another of said ao coaxial elements and another of said members, meansfor retarding the rotation of one of said last mentioned coaxial elements, and power connections with the third coaxial element including fast and slow speed driving '100 connections therefor,sa`id power connections including .means for effecting rotation of said ythird coaxialelement in opposite directions without reversing said motor.

6. In a mining machine, the combination 51105 including a motor, and flexible feeding means driventhereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portionsV extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of a machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectivelyoperative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they "cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said membersA in- `cluding a plurality of coaxial elements, a

plurality ofwhich provide coaxial portions Aand another of which provides orbitally moving means which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, operatire connections between'one of said coaxial elementsfand one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said Vcoaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of either of saidA two last mentioned coaxial elements, and power connections with the third coaxial element includingffast and slow speed driving connectionsk therefor, said power connections including means for effecting rota- IBO ytion of said thirdcoaxial element in opposite laterally from the opposite ends of a machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including a plurality of coaxial elements, a plurality of which provide coaxial portions and another of which provides orbitally moving means which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members. distinct operative 'Y connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, and a power connection with the third coaxial element including fast and reversible slow speed driving. 'connections therefore for driving said latter element at a fast speed in one direction and at a slow speed in opposite directions wliile 'said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

8., yIn a mining machine, the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of a machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling tlie rotation of said members includinga plurality of coaxial elements,a plurality ofl which provide coaxial portions and another of which provides orbital'ly moving means which constitutes a connecting means between said coaxial portions, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connect-ions between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of one of said last mentioned coaxial elements, and a power connection with the third coaxial element including fast and reversible slow speed driving connections therefor for driving said latter velement at a fast speed in one direction and at a slow speed in opposite directions while saidpmotor runs continuously inthe same direction.

9. In a mining machine, the combination 'including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from theopposite ends of a machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative ,when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for .controlling the rotation of said members including a plurality of coaxial elements, a pluand one of said members, distinct operative flaterallyfrom the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members ,including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means constituting a connection between said coaxial gears, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, and reversible power connections with the third coaxial element for driving the latter selectively in opposite directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

l1. In a mining machine, the combination includingflexible feeding means including a motor, and a. plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling .the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means constituting a connection between said coaxial gears, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, and fast and slow speed power connections with the third co- 'llii Cil ible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends `of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable membersy operatively engaging said portions and respectively` operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means constituting a connect-ion between said coaxial gears, operative connectionsy between one ofsaid coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members and fast and yreversible slow speed power connections with the third vcoaxial element for driving tlielatter at a fast speed in one direction and at a' slow speed in opposite directions while said motor rims continuously inthe same direction. i

13. In a mining` machine, the combination l including amotor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby includine` a pluralityy of Vilexf ible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from-the opposite ends of the niachine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means having teethmoving at equal an gular rates constituting a connection between saidcoaxiall gears, operative connections between one of'said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, and reversible power connections 'with the'tliird coaxial element for drivingthelatter selectively in opposite directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

14.' In a miningmachine, the combination 'including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven` thereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely-laterally from the oppositeend's of the machine `during cutting acrossa face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operativewlien' rotated'in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said 'members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and thethird orbitally moving `gear means having teeth moving at equal angular rates constituting a connection between said coaxial gears, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another kof said coaxial elements and Vanother of said members, and fast and slow speed power connections with the third coaxial element including means for driving the latter selectively in opposite directions t while said motor runs continuously inthe same direction.

` 15.1 In a mining machine,the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of ilexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of the inachine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portionsV with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controllingthe rotation of said'members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means having teeth moving ate'qual angular rates constituting a connectionwbetween said coaxial gears,'operative'connections between` one of saidcoaxial elements i and one of said members, distinct operative connect-ions between another of ysaid coaxial elements and another of said members, ard fast and reversible slow speed power connections with tlie third coaxial element' for driving the latter at a fast speed in one direction and at a slow speed in. opposite directions while said motor runs-continuously in the same direction.

16. In a mining machine, the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means 1 driven therebyy including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of thermachine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging saidv portions vandl respectively operative when rotatedv in tions betweenone of Isaid coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative .connections between another of'said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retardingv the rotation of one of the two last mentioned coaxial elements, and reversible power connections with the third coaxial element for driving thelatter selectively in yopposite directions while said motor rims continuously in the same direction.

-f Y 17. In a mining machine, the combination f aine "'llO including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a phirality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions `with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means having teeth moving at equal angular rates constituting a connection between said coaxial gears, operative connections between one of said coaxialelements and Aone of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of one ofthe two lastmentioned coaxial elements, and fast and reversible slow speed power connections with the third coaxial element for driving the latter ata fast speed in one direction and at a slow speed in opposite directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

18. In a mining machine, the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of flexible feeding portions extending oppositely laterally from the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means having teeth moving atequal angular rates constituting a connection between said coaxial gears, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of either of said twolast mentioned coaxial elements including adjustable frictional retarding means, and reversible power connections with the third coaxial element for driving the latter selectively in opposite directions while said motor runs con.- tinuously in the same direction.

19. In a mining machine, the combination including a motor, and flexible feeding means driven thereby including a plurality of iiexible feeding portions extending oppositely lat erally from the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable members operatively engaging said portions and respectively operative when rotated in the proper direction to draw in the portions with which they cooperate, and mechanism for controlling the rotation of said members including three coaxial elements, two providing coaxial gears and the third orbitally moving gear means having teeth moving at equal angular rates constituting a connection between said coaxialr gears, operative connections betwcen one of said coaxial elements and one of said members, distinct operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and another of said members, means for retarding the rotation of either of said two last mentioned coaxial elements including adjustable frictional retarding means, and fast and reversible slow speed power connections with the third coaxial element for driving the latter at a fast speed in one direction and at a slow speed in opposite directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction.

20. The combination with a mining machine7 of a feed operating mechanism therefor including a motor, a differential including elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of power thereto by said motor, and means for driving said ldifferential from said motor in a plurality of directions while said motor direction remains the same.

21. The combination with a mining machine, of feed operating mechanism including a motor, a differential including elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of power thereto by said motor, and means driv en by said motor for driving said differential in a plurality of directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction in cluding a plurality of driving trains.

22. The combination with a mining machine, of feed operating mechanism including a motor, a differential including elements movablein an orbit upon transmission of power thereto by said motor, and means 105 driven by said motor for driving said difen ential in a plurality of directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direction including a plurality of driving trains and a clutch mechanism for each train op- 110 erative to connect one train and disconnect the other.

23. The combination with a mining machine, of feed operating mechanism including a motor, a differential including elements 115 movable in an orbit upon transmission of power thereto by said motor, and means driven by said motor for driving said Clifforential in a plurality of directions while said motor runs continuously in the same direc- 120 tion including a plurality of driving trains and a single frictional mechanism for each train operative to connect or control said trains.

24. The combination with a mining ma- 125 chine including a motor, of cutting mechanism, feed operating mechanism including a differential including elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of power thereto b said motor, and means for driving said difSi 130 m'zasa t and a high speed train independent of saidk cutting mechanism.

26. The combination vwith a mining machine, of cuttingl mechanism, feed operating mechanism including a differential including elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of power'thereto by said motor, and means for driving said differential at different speeds and in dierent directions while said cutting mechanism operates continuously in the same direction and including a train driven from said cutting mechanism and a high speed train independent of said cutting mechanism and a friction mechanism controlling each train.y

27. vThe combination with a mining machine, of feed operating means thereon including a motor, a differential including elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of power thereto by said motor, worm and worm gear driving mechanism for said differential, and menas for rotating said worm at different speeds and in different directions while said motor speed remains constant and the direction of motor rotation remains un changed. Y

28. The combination with a mining machine, of feed operating means thereon'in-x cluding la motor and a dierential including elements movable in an orbit uponk transmission of power thereto by said motor, worm and worm gear driving mechanism therefor, and means driven by said motor for rotating said worm at different speeds and in differ-` ent directions without reversing said motor and including a plurality of drive trains.

29. In a mining machine, the combination including exiblefeeding means including a plurality of flexible feeding `portions eX- tending oppositely from the opposite ends of the machine during cutting across a face, rotatable feed operating and take-up members respectively operatively engaging said portions, a motor, a diiferential driven by said motor and having coaxial elements connected by orbitally moving elements, operative connections between one of said coaxial elements and said feed operating member, operative connections between another of said coaxial elements and said take-up member,

'- means for braking the rotation of either said feed operating member-oi' saidy take-up Ymember, and meansA for effecting orbital movement of said orbitally movable members including fast and slow. speedl driving connections, said slow 'speed ydriving connection-s beingoper-y ative't'o eifectrotationl of said orbitallyamoving inemb ers in: th eir orbit in either Vdirection without reversal of the motor; 5

)50. In a` mining ma'chi'ne,ithe combination including liexible V`feeding means includii'ig; a plurality of flexible feeding'porticnsgeitending'opposiftely from thefopposite endsv of the machine during .cutting across av lface,ro- Jta-table feed operating. and take-up members respectively operatively engaging said portionsg; armotor, av differential `driven by said motor and having coaii'altelements connected by orbitally moving elements, operative'v connections between one of said coaxial elements and said feed operating member, opv erative connections between another of said Vcoaxiall elements and said take-up member,

means yfor brakingthe rotation of either saidfeed operating member or said take-up member, and means for effecting orbital movement of said orbitally movablemembers indirections transversely of a working face and for controlling the angle thereof during feed in either direction including a plurality of driving members, means for rotating said members in opposite directions, means for interchangeably supporting for driving by said members a plurality of sets of feed operating members including means on the machine for supporting either member, one set of said yfeed operating members being adapted to cooperate with a single iieXible feeding member and the other set of which is adapted to cooperate with separate lflexible feeding and trailing members, yand means on the machine for supporting interchangeably a plurality of sets 'of guiding members adapted `to cooperate respectively with a single flexible feeding member or with separate iexible feeding members.

32.` fn a mining machine having reversible cutting mechanism, means for eecting controlled feedingof said machine in opposite directions ktransversely of a working face and for controlling the angle thereof during feed in either direction including a plurality of driving members, means for rotating said llil() members in opposite directions, means for interchangeably supporting for driving by said members a plurality of sets of feed drums and driving sprockets including means on the machine for supporting either said drums or said sprockets, said set of driving sprockets being adapted to cooperate with a single flexible feed chain and said set of feed drums being adapted to cooperate with separate flexible feeding and trailing cables7 and means on the machinefor supporting inter` changeably 'a plurality of sets of guiding sheaves and sprockets adapted to cooperate respectively with separate flexible cab-les or with a single flexible feed chain.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

